Taiwan's Average Life Expectancy at 81 Could Rise to 85 Without Cancer

The "Simplified Life Table Excluding Specific Causes of Death for 2025," released this morning by the Ministry of the Interior, reveals that the average life expectancy of the Taiwanese population is 81.27 years. If the factor of malignant tumors is excluded, life expectancy rises to 84.97 years, an increase of 3.70 years. This gain far exceeds the impact of other leading causes of death. These figures not only reflect an improving trend in the population's health status but also highlight the prominent position of cancer in Taiwan's mortality structure.

A simplified life table is a statistical tool that observes the impact on average life expectancy by temporarily removing specific causes of death. Based on national mortality statistics, the Ministry of the Interior's "Simplified Life Table Excluding Specific Causes of Death for 2025" systematically excludes the top ten leading causes of death and recalculates life expectancy metrics. This method quantifies the actual contribution of each cause of death to population life expectancy, providing more targeted data references for public health policy.

The increase in life expectancy to 84.97 years after excluding malignant tumors indicates that cancer mortality remains a core health challenge in Taiwan. In comparison, excluding heart disease raises average life expectancy by only 1.54 years, while excluding pneumonia increases it by 1.13 years. These figures demonstrate that although cardiovascular and respiratory diseases are also major causes of death, cancer imposes the heaviest burden on overall life expectancy extension.

Taiwan's population is undergoing rapid aging. According to Ministry of the Interior statistics, the proportion of the population aged 65 and above has surpassed 15%. As the population ages, the incidence of chronic diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, and pneumonia also rises in tandem. In recent years, Taiwan has made significant progress in cancer screening, early diagnosis, and treatment techniques. However, the high mortality rate of malignant tumors still indicates room for improvement in prevention and early intervention. Heart disease is primarily associated with lifestyle, dietary habits, and obesity, while pneumonia is linked to declining immunity in the elderly, chronic lung diseases, and vaccination rates.

The results of this life table hold significant reference value for policymakers. First, given the high impact of malignant tumors, the government can further expand the promotion of cancer screening, early diagnosis, and coverage of publicly funded treatment to reduce medical costs and loss of life resulting from late-stage diagnoses. Second, although the impact of cardiovascular disease and pneumonia is relatively smaller, their mortality rates still need to be reduced through diverse measures such as health promotion, smoking cessation, dietary adjustments, and vaccination. Finally, these data can also assist insurance companies in adjusting premium structures and provide a scientific basis for the allocation of medical resources, ensuring that the healthcare system can effectively respond to demographic changes.

In summary, the simplified life table released by the Ministry of the Interior not only presents the current status of average life expectancy in Taiwan but also uses data to illustrate the actual contribution of each major cause of death to life expectancy extension. For the government, medical institutions, and the public, this serves as an opportunity to strengthen cancer prevention and early treatment, as well as improve the management of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. If health promotion policies are continuously implemented and combined with technological innovation, Taiwan's average life expectancy is expected to remain at a high level while further narrowing the life expectancy gap caused by major diseases. (Source: Central News Agency)